Stepper with electrical generator

ABSTRACT

A stepper with electrical generator comprises a base having a pair of frames at front respective sides to receive a left and a right rod. A transmission gear is secured to on one end of a shaft pivoted at respective front ends of the left and right rods. The transmission gear meshes with a driven wheel which is secured on a transmission shaft pivoted to the base. The transmission shaft has an electrical generator secured at one end thereof. A pair of supporting plates extends upwardly from two sides of the base, respectively, with a recess on top thereof adapted to receive a linking unit thereon. The linking unit comprises a pair of cranks at respective ends with their end portions against the bottom of the left and right rods, respectively. The base further comprises a fixed rod at center portion, and the left and right rods also comprise an auxiliary rod, respectively. The fixed rod is connected with the auxiliary rods by elastic rubbers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a stepper, and more particularly, to a stepper equipped with electrical generator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] People pay more attention today in their body exercise in order to maintain a healthy body. Many people choose to go to gymnastics to exercise, some people purchase equipment at home. Due to the indoor limited space, a stepper has been a popular exerciser. There are many types of steppers on the market. Most of them use hydraulic system to assist movement of the rods.

[0003] However, after using a period of time, a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic system may cause leakage and problems starting to occur, and the machine becomes boring to users.

[0004] In view of this, the inventor has derived the present invention, which comprises a self-producing electricity, which is more attractive and with more fun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a stepper with electrical generator, which is easy to operate.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a stepper with electrical generator, which saves energy.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stepper with electrical generator, which is durable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of FIG. 2; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view depicting activation of the generator when operating the stepper of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] A stepper with electrical generator of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a base 1 having two frames 11 at the front two sides, equally spaced from each other. The frames 11 are connected with a left rod 2 and a right rod 3 by means of inserting a shaft 12 through a shaft 23 and 33 of the left rod 2 and the right rod 3, respectively. The end of the left rod 2 and the right 3 are secured with a left pedal 21 and a right pedal 31, and a buffer 22 and 32 at the bottom end of the left pedal 21 and the right pedal 31, respectively.

[0013] The base 1 comprises a support 13 transversely thereat, with two supporting plates 4 at respective sides having a recess 41 on the top portion of each supporting plate 4 adapted to receive a linking unit 5 to seat thereon. The linking unit 5 has a shaft 51 with two cranks 52 and 53 on each end. The cranks 52 and 53 are in different lengths, and are secured with a roller 521 and 531 at the ends of the cranks 52 and 53. The rollers 521 and 531 are arranged in opposing directions, and are located underneath the left rod 2 and the right rod 3. Because of their opposing directions arrangement, one of the rollers is at front position and the other is at rear position underneath the left and right rod 2 and 3, respectively. The base 1 comprises a pair of blocks 14 at the center of two side bars, and the blocks 14 are adapted to secure a fixed rod 6, which is connected with one end of a pair of elastic rubbers 8 and 8′. Each of the left rod 2 and the right rod 3 has an auxiliary rod 24 and 34 at the front portion close to the shafts 23 and 33 at the front end thereof. The auxiliary rods 24 and 34 are to be connected with the other ends of the elastic rubbers 8 and 8′. Each of the shafts 23 and 33 comprises a transmission gear 231 and 331, which is limited to rotate towards one direction by a one-way bearing 7, and which is meshed with a driven wheel 15 on a transmission shaft 151 of the base 1. The elastic rubbers 8 and 8′ provide with a restoring force towards the auxiliary rods 24 and 34, constantly.

[0014] When the driven wheel 15 of the base 1 is driven by the transmission gear 231 or 331 to rotate, it links the transmission shaft 151 to rotate simultaneously, whereas the transmission shaft 151 is connected with a generator 16 at one end, hence, when the transmission shaft 151 rotates, a magnet 161 within the generator 16 rotates simultaneously, while a coil 162 in the generator 16 remains still, the electricity is produced and is transmitted through wires out of the generator 16 to a load.

[0015] To operate the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a user steps on the left pedal 21 and the right pedal 31 of the present invention and moves up and down. When the right pedal 31 moves downwards, the roller 531 at the shorter crank 53 of the linking unit 5 is forced by the right pedal 31 to roll against the bottom portion of the right pedal 31, whereas the left roller 521 of the longer crank 52 of the linking unit 5 rolls the left pedal 31 upwardly. Vise versa, when the left pedal 21 moves downwards, the left roller 521 at the longer crank 52 of the linking unit 5 is forced by the left pedal 2 to roll against the bottom portion of the left pedal 21, whereas the right roller 531 of the shorter crank 53 of the linking unit 5 rolls the right pedal 31 upwardly. The up and down movement of the left rod 2 or the right rod 3 pulls the elastic rubbers 8 or 8′ to tight position, which then produce a restoring force to the left rod 2 or the right rod 3 and forces the user to apply force to step the pedals 2 and 3. By repeating these steps, the shafts 23 and 33 link the transmission gears 231 and 331 to rotate in a constant manner, which link the driven wheel 15 and the transmission shaft 151 to rotate, and which then link the magnet 161 of the generator 16 to rotate with respect to the sill status of the coil 162 to produce electricity. 

I claim:
 1. A stepper with electrical generator comprising a base having a pair of frames at the front respective sides with a left rod and a right rod connecting thereat, a transmission gear being secured to one end of a shaft pivoted at respective front ends of said left rod and said right rod, said transmission gear being meshed with a driven wheel secured at the center position of a transmission shaft pivoted to the front end of said base, said transmission shaft of said driven wheel having one end secured with a generator; a pair of supporting plates being secured and extending upwardly from two sides of said base, said supporting plates comprising a recess on the top portion of each to receive a linking unit seating thereon, said linking unit comprising a shaft with a pair of cranks secured at respective ends and in opposing directions with each other, one end of each said crank being against the bottom portion of said left rod and said right rod, respectively; said base comprising a fixed rod at center portion thereof, and both of said left rod and said right rod comprising an auxiliary rod, each of said auxiliary rods having connected with one end of an elastic rubber, and the other end of each said elastic rubber being secured to said fixed rod of said base, wherein when a user pressing said left pedal or said right pedal, said cranks being linked to move up and down, thus linking said transmission gear to rotate, which in turn linking said driven wheel and said transmission shaft to rotate, thus bringing said generator to generate electricity.
 2. The stepper with electrical generator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said generator comprises a magnet and a coil, and said magnet rotates with respect to said coil to generate electricity.
 3. The stepper with electrical generator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission gear comprises a one-way bearing inside and is limited to rotate towards one direction by said one-way bearing. 